Experiences of neutering male dogs

elsien

No effect on Gitdog's OTT behaviour at all - I probably wouldn't have had him done but it was a requirement of the rescue I had him from. I initially thought some of the reaction to him from other dogs was because he was an entire male, but after he was neutered I realised it was actually because he is just a complete knob with no manners around other dogs. It's a poor socialisation/training issue for him, not a hormonal one. He still gets told off by other dogs as much as he did before.

Brother's dog - stopped him straying quite so much but bro thinks he lost some of his get up and go as a result.
Friends dog - again, stopped the straying problems, she said she was very glad she had him done.
No resulting health problems that I am aware of. No resulting obesity for any of them.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

My childhood dog wasn't neutered. He had an absolutely lovely temperament with people, children, smaller animals and other dogs and would trot along with me for miles off the lead - however, one whiff of a female and he had the skills of a canine Houdini crossed with the best Colditz Castle could offer - he would disappear for a couple of days at a time.

Fortunately, he always managed to come back completely unharmed, as we were only a quiet road away from open land - but he wouldn't have stood a chance had he been alive now; the increase in traffic in what is still technically a quiet residential area means that he would most likely have been squished by a car before he got thirty foot from the front door. As he was a lemon Beagle, he didn't look scary, either (more like a young labrador than an adult dog), so, combined with his friendliness, he wouldn't have attracted negative attention in the way a big dog like a GSD/Lab would do.


If yours isn't neutered and gets the scent of a female, he will be off and, if not hit by a car, somebody will report him; considering the laws about animals being out of control now, he'll be in the pound and you'll be in trouble even if he doesn't end up in a fight.


It's just not worth the risk, IMO.

catkins

Almost all my dogs have been rescues so already done when I got them.


I had a male done about 15 years ago at the age of 6 months on my vet's advice (living abroad at the time). I had nothing but problems from the minute I brought the dog home. He was absolutely screaming in pain (the vet never gave me any pain killers as he said he wouldn't need them). I was so upset I phoned a different vet and did a long journey to see him. Second vet said the op had not been done properly and would have to be redone.
It broke my heart to see my dog so down and in so much pain. It was a good few weeks before he was back to anything like normal.


When he was 9 I came back to England and started having joint problems, thyroid problems and a few other health issues. My vet, who I trust, said it may well have been due to being castrated too young.


I vowed I would never get another dog done.


Fast forward to now. I have a male dog who is coming up to 4. Vet said if I were going to get him done to wait till he was at least 2. Had no problems with him up to the age of 2 so decided to wait and see what happened. Still no problems so he is not being done.

GwylimT

If you don't neuter he can never be off lead unless he is on secure private land with very high fences.

I wouldn't keep an unneutered animal, my dogs have always been done at 14 weeks when they have been microchipped, all have led long healthy lives.

sheramber

I know many owners of entire dogs who have no problems with them off lead.

Several dogs at my agility club are entire and none run off.

Hormones, or the lack of them, can affect a dog in different ways.

My neutered female would have put any stud dog to shame. She knew immediately an in season !!!!! was around or had been walked where we were. She would follow the scent, chattering her teeth. She also mounted others. She was neutered at 5 years old and ddi not display that behaviour befioe she was spayed.

One of my dog who was neutered at 9 months started lifting his leg and mounting others at 2 years old.

teddysmum

catkins wrote: »

When he was 9 I came back to England and started having joint problems, thyroid problems and a few other health issues. My vet, who I trust, said it may well have been due to being castrated too you.

Sorry, but this made me laugh.

teddysmum

My two boys were done at middle age (now 13 this month and 12) and had no problems.


Teddy is a nibbler worrier,so I bought him a comfy collar, but he made no attempt to get at his wound and was as lively as ever.


Joly whimpered the first night, but I soon discovered that it was because he wanted to come out of his crate, not being used to no open door overnight.

Person_one

sheramber wrote: »

I know many owners of entire dogs who have no problems with them off lead.

Several dogs at my agility club are entire and none run off.

No responsible owner would even take the chance, however small.

sangie595

I hate to burst anyone's bubble,but my entire dogs have never run off, ever, for any reason. That is a result of training. Not of neutering. Neutered dogs also run off. If they aren't trained. And I resent the implications that only neutered dogs have responsible owners. That is not a rational argument and is not supported by any evidence.

Katiehound

My dogs have always had the snip- if not before I have rehomed them, then as part of my agreement to rehome from a rescue.
There have been no problems- I certainly would not want them off hunting for a girl in season, or wandering off onto agricultural land (this is a rural area once out of town.) Apart from anything else there is always the risk of sheep worrying (or the possibility of that.)